Alberta’s Frog Lake First Nation announced it is planning a 0 million casino complex in Lloydminster just a few days after Saskatchewan’s Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) voted to approve of a Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) casino on the Saskatchewan side of that city.
Both tribes concede there isn’t a large enough market for two such casinos.
Bruce Simms, project manager for the Lloydminster Regional Entertainment Complex Project, told the Saskatoon StarPhoenixlast week, “The Lloydminster market only has room for one casino.”
The Frog Lake First nation has purchased about 140 acres for the development, which, besides a casino, would have a hockey area, convention center and hotel.
Phillip Chief, associate director of operations for Onion Lake, and a participant of the SIGA proposal said he believes the Frog Lake plan won’t happen because of a moratorium in place for new licenses in Alberta. “I think it’s somewhat misunderstood by the parties involved,” Chief said. He added that the city doesn’t want to have two casinos operating.
Simms said the Frog Lake plan would emphasize non-gaming amenities, such as the 6,500-seat hockey arena.
